The Flag on my Front Porch
Posted On September 11, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
Author’s Note: I wrote this piece exactly three years ago, on September 11th, 2020, and then reposted it again in September 2021 and 2022. And based on the number of emails and comments I received each time, it was clear that it resonated loudly with many. And everyone who knows me, knows I love meaningful […]
Silence Is NOT An Absence of Music
Posted On September 7, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
When we are listening to music, and there is a moment of silence in the piece of music, that moment of silence is not an absence of music. No. Rather, the moment of silence is part OF the music. I love this idea. The silence is a conscious choice by the composer. The silence contributes […]
How You Can Help Your People Manage Their Time
Posted On September 5, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
If you are like the vast majority of people we meet in our workshops, then you are struggling with too many meetings, too many messages, too many requests, and too many demands on your time. If you are like the vast majority of people we meet in our workshops, then the boundaries between your home […]
The Most Valuable Person in the Room
Posted On August 31, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
Details matter in business, and in some industries, the details are everything. But the amount of detail we discuss in meetings and presentations, and the way in which we communicate it, is a daily source of frustration in most companies. I hear this every single day… I am drowning in detail… I didn’t need to […]
The Power of Inclusive Language
Posted On August 29, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
Four years ago, things were going well for me and my colleagues at The Latimer Group. We were like a boat running hard downwind in a following breeze. The wind was blowing the dog off the chain, and we were barely holding on, white knuckles at all times. But even though the breeze was blowing […]
6 Tips to Help You Nail Your Next Interview
Posted On August 24, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
In our coaching and training, we end up discussing the interview process all the time. Many of our existing clients interview regularly for promotions within their company. And we also partner with many young professionals or “pre-professionals,” who are trying to get launched and established on their career path. In other words, regardless of where […]
Leaders: Push and Protect… Both Matter
Posted On August 17, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
I had a conversation with my eldest child the other day that is relevant to today’s discussion. Our son is 13, quite opinionated, and a good negotiator! And he came to his parents to let us know that he did not like a decision we had made, and wanted to know why we had made […]
Breaking Through That Ceiling
Posted On August 10, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
My family and I met with a dear old friend yesterday, who has recently started a new job as Head of School at a well-known New England boarding school. We were going to be in his neighborhood, and he generously agreed to spend a few minutes with us and show us around. It was great […]
How to Communicate Through Conflict
Posted On August 8, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
Communicating through conflict doesn’t have to be that hard. It can be… but it doesn’t have to be. And the key is your mindset during the conflict. What are you thinking about when communicating with the person you are in conflict with? Are you thinking about winning the discussion, regardless of what comes later? Are […]
Four Long-Term Benefits of Great Communication
Posted On August 3, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
Being a great communicator is about so much more than the sales call you’re about to make, the meeting you’re about to join, or the conversation you’re about to have… Beyond the immediate benefits of closing a sale, or contributing to a meeting, great communication skills create several significant realities that will benefit you in […]